Display apparatus



Sept. 13, 1932. CRAIG DISPLAY APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 29, 1925 Elwin/W I Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNI-TED'lS'T A-TES PATENT. orri'cs TO. THOMAS w. MENEFEE,

RICHARD m. CRAIG, or SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, assionon, Yiv'i'Esnn ASSIGNMENTS,

or sAiv- ANTONIO, 'r ixas nIsrLAY APP RATUS Original application filedFDecember 29; 1925, Serial N'o. 73,244,, nw Patent No.1 1,698,219, eta-ems 8,",

1929. Divided and this application filed. January 7, 1929. Serial N-. 330,9 35.

This inventionrela'tes to display apparatus and more particularly to an advertising sign of the type disclosed cation, Serial No. 78,244,1iled December 29, 1925, now-Patent 'No. uai'yS, 1929, and of which the-present-application is adivision- One object of the invention is to provide a' sign having. advertising matter painted other thereon in pigment colors and soarranged that when subjected to'spectral rays of appropriate colors'alternately turned on and off, portions ofthe advertising matter will be alternately displayed and absorbed While portions will be continuously displayed. p q

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign which will be attractive in ape pearance and hold the interest ofa person 3 observing the same by the novel manner in which the subject matteris displayed upon he sign board. l i In the accompanying drawing:

0 Figure .1 is a schematic view i'llustrating one application of the principles of the presentinvention, wherein one kind of background is utilized in combination withmatter i'epresentedthereon in neutral color and other matter in a single primary pigment color;

Figure 2 is a similar: viewillustrating an:

other application of! the principles o-fthe invention, whereintlie matter to be-displayed is represented upon a background of a dif# feirent character than that shown in Figure 1, andi another application of the-principles of the invention, wherein the entire display-surface J 5 may be flooded with White light for a' vperiod erence will be made to pigment colors, and by this term are meant colored pigments or the colors in which the mages are represented on the; display surface; Reference Will-also be' made to spectral colors and by this; is

" meant tl e'colors of-the spectrum as -reprein copending appli-' 1,698,219, issued" J an-.

sentedby thejcolored light Reference will likewisebe made to neutral colors, and,

by neutral colors ismeant colors which do notlmateriallyicha'nge' under spectral color illumination 01', in other words, thosel colors which-display no dec ded color oharacteristics-such as vrelate to primary colors.

board or any other surface upon which ad;

vertisiiig'or other matter is to be represented. In this embodiment of the invention, the display surfaceis painted white or some other,

light neutral color to provide a neutral background, 2, and uponthe mid-portion-of the surface there is vrepresented, in some dark,

neutral color or colors,*'an image 3 of the article to be advertised, it being understood, of

course, that the represenation is not limited to an article of "merchandise but that'any matter may be represented on this portion of the background if such matter is intended to be-Zcontinuous'ly displayed to view, anditis for this'reason, as willjpresently be made apparent, that the matter-is represented in a dark neutral color.

jIii the particular illus tration' given, the representation 3 is thatof a spark plug, and advertising matter relating to the particular; article is 7 represented upon tllGbELGkgI'OHHCl at opposite sides of the rep resentation 3. Thus, as-an illustration, the

word Spark indicated by the numeral 4,

maybe painted inred pigment upon the backa 1 i i grou'ndhat the left hand sideof the repre- Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating.

sentation 3, and the word Plug, indicated by, the numeral '5, may be painted likewise in red pigment,- .u-pon-the background at the right hand side of-the'representation, This constitutes, of course, merely a simple example of the applicationor the principles of the invention and-the matters to be displayed may be ofa more, complex nature, depending upon the character of the display as a whole. I There are numerous-lightneiitral colors and'num'en ous dark neutral colors,and as an example of.

the use ofsuchcolors, the background- 2 may be white, white lead, zinc white, and the representation?) maybe in b own;

or the like,-

the bulbs being such that they will be sym metrically distributed as, for example, in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. In this embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that the twolateral halves ofthe'display surface be successively illuminated by the complementary colors and, therefore, a suitable flashing mechanism is provided which is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 1, and indicated in general'by the numeral 7.

As a suitable example of such a mechanism or device, the same may comprise a disc 8 of insulating material in which areembedded a number of contact strips 9 of arcuate form and other contact strips 10 likewise of-arcuate form, the strips being-positioned concentric to said strips 9 and 10 being arranged in staggered relation. The numeral 11 indicates the source the axis of rotation of the disc 8 and of current supply and the numeral 12 a cona ductor' wire leading therefrom to, for example,-the shaft 13 upon which the disc 8 is mounted, branch wires 14 extending from the shaft to the several contact strips 9 and 10; Brushes 15 and 16 are suitably mounted injuxtaposition to the disc to respectively contact the strips 9 and 10 inthe rotation of the disc 8, and another conductor wire 16 is led from the other terminal of the source of current supply and. connected to one terminal of each of the sockets forthe light bulbs 5' and 6. A conductor wire 17 is connected to the brush 15 and it, and branches leading therefrom, nals of the sockets for the red light bulbs 5 at 1 the left of the display surface 1 and to the other terminals of the sockets for the blue light bulbs 6 at the right of said displaysurface, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 of the-drawing, A conductor wire 18 and branches therefrom are connectedto the other terminals of the sockets for the blue light bulbs 6 atthe left side of the display surface and to the other terminals of the sockets for the red light bulbs 5 at the right hand side of the display surface. The arrangement of the contact strips 9 and 10 is such that, for ex-- ample, when the receding end of one of the contact strips 9 passes beneath the brush 15, in the rotation of the flasher disc 8, the advancing end of the next adjacent contact strip 10 will ride into electrical contact with the brush 16. Due to the arrangement of the light bulbs and the manner in which they are wired in connection with the flasher device,

" of whatever character it may be,the red light are connected to the other termibulbs 5 at the left hand side of the display surface and the blue light bulbs 6 at the right hand side of the display surface will be simultaneously illuminated for a period of time and, at the moment they are extinguished, the blue light bulbs 6 at the left hand side of the display surface and the red light bulbs 5 at the right hand side of the display surface will be supplied with current. Consequently, at one moment the display surface will be illuminated or displayed in red light rays at the left hand side and blue light rays at the right hand side, and at the next moment, in blue light rays at the left hand side and red light rays at the right hand side. The display matters 1 and 5, in the specific embodiment illustrated constituting the words Spark and Plug respectively, are, aslpreviously explained, represented invred pigment color and consequently when'the left hand side of the display surface is illuminated in red light rays and the right hand side thereof inblue light rays, the word Spark will be obliter: ated and the word Plug will appear substantially black on a substantially white background. Similarly, when the'left hand side of the display'surface is illuminated by blue light rays'and the right. hand side by red light rays, the word Spark will appear substantially black against a white background and the word Plug will be obliterated, but the right hand side of the surface will be illuminated in red. Due to the symmetrical arrangement of the. red and blue li ht bulbs,in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, or an equivalent manner, and due to the blending of the complementary spectral colors red and blue,the intermediate portion of the display surface upon which the representation 3 is depicted in neutral pigment color," will appear substantially white and the saidrepresentation 8 will, therefore, be visible at all times, the neutral color in which it is represented being substantially unaffected by the spectral light rays by which the display surface is illuminated. Thus, in this application of the principles of the invention, we'have the efiect of a display surface ranging, in one instance, in color,fro1n red through white to blue and, in the other instance, from blue through white to red. This color change produces a'pleasingefiect on the observer of the display surface and his attention is attracted and held thereto.- It will be evident that in this embodiment of the invention there 1 are present the factors of animation, illuminationwith color effects, and change in the matters to be displayed, so that, while the spark plug representation 3 is always presented to the vision of the observer, the words 1 the drawing is a simple one and is intended merely to exemplify oneof the possible applications of the principles of theinvention and it will be quite evident that a much more complex arrangement of matter to be displayed may be developed under the ingenuity of the designer of the display surface. As distinguished from other applications of the principles of the invention which Wlll be presently explained, itis to-be observed that in this instance the representations 4 and 5, being painted in a common pigment color upon a light neutral background, are obhterated under corresponding spectral light rays and displayed to the vision under'complementary spectral lightraysl It will likewise be understood that, while the representations i and 5 have been described and illustrated as red in color, they may be of any other primary color andthat the light rays deliver-ed from the sources of varied in color to conform with valuations in the colors of the represenations 4: and 5. As a specific example, the Words Spark and Plug might be represented in green pigment color. Instead of representing the words Spark and Plug in red only, these representations might. be painted or otherwise represented in a combination ofred, magenta, pink, orange and yellow, all of which colors would disappear under red light illumination and would give varyingcolor graduations under blue or green light illumination. 7

Figure 2 of the drawing represents'a converse application of the principlesof the in vention. In this figure, the numeral 19 indicates in general a display surface to which a there is applied a dark neutral pigment to provide a dark neutral background, indicated by the numeral 20; Matters to be displayed, such, for example, as the words Spark and Plug, indicated by the numerals 21 and22, respectively, are depicted upon the background 20 in red, in the illustrated embodiment, or in some other primary color or contrasting color. As thebackground 20 is of a dark neutral color, the representation 23 of a spark plug, which corresponds to the representation 3 in the previously described embodiment of the invention, is in white or some other light neutral color. bulbs 5, and blue light bulbs 6, are arranged in juxtaposition to the display surface to illuminate it in the same manner as the light bulbs in the previously described embodiment of the invention. Current from the source of supply is supplied to the light bulbs and the supply is controlled by a flasher and a system of wirin identical with that shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, therefore requiring no further description. of the principles of the invention,- when the left hand side of the display surface is illumiillumination will be- The red light In this application nated in red and the right the word Spark or the equivalent repre sentation 21 will appear vividly substantially in white against a black ordark background and the representation '2201' the word Plug will be obliterated, and, on the "other hand,

when the .left hand side of the display sur face is illuminatedin blue and thc right hand side in red, the word Snark wlll be 'obllterated and the word- Plug willfappear vividly and substantially white against a It will be evident that light neutral color, wills tand out vividly against a dark background and will be con stantly presented to the view ofthe observer. It will also be evident that due to themarked contrast between thedark background and the vivid substantially white color in which therepresentations 21' and 22 are alternately displayed, the sign disclosed in the said Figure 2 will possess exceptional value as a night sign, although, in thiscase, asin the embodi mentjof the invention previously described, the display surface possesses all that can be desired as a daylightadvertising mediumas' all of the matters represented upon the; sur-' face are visible during daylight hours and, due to the employment of backgrounds of neutral colors, it is possible to employ opaque pigments as distinguished from'transp'arent in. distinctive'ne'ss.v All that has been said with reference to a rearrange pigments lacking ment of the mattersto be displayed and .a. complex arrangement and distribution" of these matters, with regard to Figure 2. For example, the words Spark and Plug mightbe represented in blue or green and the background might be black represented, in the first in-' an side in blue,

r the embodiment V shown in F gure 1, appliesto that shown in.

ground and, in thellatter instance upon a dark neutral background.

Figure 3 of the bodiment which is'of particular value at night and in thisfigure the display surface is indicated in general by thenumerall 58 and, in the specificinstance given, has its surface painted with a light neutral pigment to provide a light background "59 of a neutral color. The words Spark and Plug, in-' dicated, respectively, by the numerals 60 and 61, are represented upon the background in some primary or, distinctive pigment color,

such, for example, as red, and a representadrawing represents an 6111- tion- 62 of a spark plug, for example, may be painted in a neutral color upon the said back ground, the neutral color being, of course, in contrast to the neutral color of the background so that the said representation 62 will be at all times visible against the background;

Red light bulbs 63 and blue light bulbs 64 are arranged adjacent the display surface so as to illuminate the same, and the supply of current from the source of supply 65 to the said bulbs, iscontrolled through the medium of a flasher 66 which is of substantially the 7 same constructionas the flasher shown in Figure l and previously described, except that in this instance, in addition to the staggered contacts 67 which are carried by the rotating insulating disk 68, two other arcuate contact strips 69 and 70 are arranged upon the face of the disc 68 and are of uniform angular length and longer than the strips 67. In this arrangement, the staggered contact strips 67 are so arranged and wired in the circuit that as they pass'beneath' the brushes 71 which are in circuit with the sockets for I .7 the electric light bulbs 63 and 64, the red light bulbs at one side of the display surface and the blue light bulbs at the other side of the display surface will be simultaneously supplied with current and, vice versa,-the blue light bulbs at the first mentioned side of said surface and the red light bulbs at the other side of the surface will be simultaneously supplied with current, and, due to the staggered arrangementof the contact strips, as in the first described embodiment of the invention, the display surface will be successively illuminated in a manner to display the word Spark and obliterate the word Plug when the left hand and right hand. sides of the 3 display surface are respectively illuminated by blue and red light rays and, on the other hand, obliterate the word Spark? and dis play the word Plug when the left hand and right hand sides are respectively illuminated by red and blue light rays. However, due

to the provision of the two relatively long contact strips 69 and 7 O, and the arrangement of these strips concentricallyside by side, as shown in Flgure 3, there will be a period of time when all of the lights 63 and (S lwill be burning, with the result that the entire display surface will be flooded with substantially white light and, therefore, all of the matter upon said surface will be as vividly and brilliantly brought to the view of the observer as seen under daylight conditions, if not more vividly and brilliantly. It will be evident, therefore, that in this embodiment of the invention, the entire display surface is flooded with white light for a period of time and then its different areas are flooded with complementary light rays which are alternated so as to attract the attention by producing the effect of animation or change in position or character of the matters to be displayed. It will likewise be evident that by utilizing the principles involved in this form of the invention great latitude is afforded the designer. of the display surface and he may, as in the previously described embodiment' of the invention, resort to the use of different pigment colors of a contrasting nature or single colors other than red. Likewise, the matters to be displayed may be represented upon alight or a dark background of appropriate neutral colors, or a combination ofsuch backgrounds may be resorted to. Likewise, in this method of display, excellent andpleasing color effects are produced, due

to the fact that, while the display surface is f being flashed, the red, white and blue spec tral colors will illuminate the surface and be reversed, alternately, as regards the position of the red and blue, to produce a pleasing color effect, andto this there is added the brilliant display of the surface when all the light bulbs are burning during the period when the entire surface is displayed. It will be evident at this point that there are three apparent changes or displays instead of two as in the previously described embodiment of the invention. 7

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim:

1. Apparatus for producing by illumination change efl'ects in'the appearance ofrepresented matters which comprises a display matters comprising a display surface bearing upon portions of its area separated matters to be displayed represented in a single distinctive pigment color, and bearing upon another portion of its area matters to be displayed represented in a neutral color, and

means for simultaneously displaying the surface in the presence of contrasting spectral light colors of contrasting colored light rays whereby the first-mentioned area portions are illuminatedwith rays of individual colors. l

3. Display apparatus"comprising a display surface bearing upon portions of its area matters tobe displayed represented in a distinctive pigment color and bearing upon another portion of its area other matters to be-displayed represented ina neutral F color and interposed with relation to the first-mentioned matters, and means for simultaneously displaying the surface in the presence of contrasting light rays from sources of mono-chromatic rays whereby to illuminate the first-mentioned area portions with rays of individual colors and illuminate the last-mentioned area portion with the artificial white light rays resulting from blending of the rays from the monochromatic sources. 7

4:- Means for displaying the effect of change in the appearance of represented matters by illumination which comprises a display surface having thereon separated matters to be displayed represented in a distinctive pigment color, means for illuminating different portions of said matters simultaneously by different light rays having differing color characteristics, one of said light rays corresponding substantially to the color of said pigment color, means for successively alternating the said illuminating means to produce contrasting effects in the matters displayed, and means for displaying said surface in the presence of said different light rays simultaneously, thereby producing a still different effect.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

RICHARD M. CRAIG. [1,. s.] 

